After taking a little while to warm up, Andre Villas-Boas’ Spurs side are now up and running, having won their last two league games. Although the young Portuguese manager is expected to make some changes for tonight’s trip to Carlisle, the quality of replacements is still likely to be too much for their League One opponents.

The 2008 winners are expected to include the likes of France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Fulham’s top-scorer from last season, Clint Dempsey, in the starting line-up, and this strength in depth should be more than enough to see off Carlisle.

The hosts are not renowned for their giant-killing ability, having only knocked out top-flight opposition on three occasions in the League Cup, the last coming in 1970. That record seems unlikely to improve this evening, when a Spurs victory seems like the only possible outcome.

At odds of 53/100 (1.533) with PanBet, it is well worth backing the visitors to outclass their modest opponents and come out on top at Brunton Park.

Every year the League Cup offers Arsene Wenger the opportunity to unleash his latest batch of outrageously talented youngsters on the big stage, and every year they manage to impress.

Regardless of the names on the team sheet, The Gunners never disappoint at this stage of the competition, having qualified for at least the quarter finals in each of the last nine seasons.

Visitors Coventry come into this encounter on the back of a four-match losing streak, and their away record of 16 defeats in 23 was critical in their relegation from the Championship last season.

The Sky Blues are in no fit state to visit the Emirates Stadium, and seem certain to end up on the wrong end of a humbling by Arsenal’s precocious stars. The Premier League side are never short of goals, and seem certain to overcome a 1.5 goal handicap to defeat a side that has conceded eight goals in their last four matches.

With odds of 62/100 (1.615) on offer, be sure to back the hosts to come away with a win despite the 1.5 goal handicap here.

After their 5-0 thrashing at home to Swansea on the opening day of the season, it is easy to forget that QPR’s great escape from relegation last season was built on a formidable record at Loftus Road.

The Hoops won their final five home games to ensure survival, and the hard-fought 0-0 draw with Chelsea last home game means that Mark Hughes’s men have only once tasted defeat in the last nine Premier League matches in their own back yard.

Visitors Reading, on the other hand, are still without a win this season in the league, and their chances of gaining a morale boosting win this evening are dampened by the news that Brian McDermott plans on resting his key men.

The hosts have spent reasonably heavily during the summer transfer window, and now boast a squad capable of coping with the squad rotation which is sure to take place tonight, unlike the visitors. At odds of 91/100 (1.909), Rangers provide excellent value to emerge victorious this evening.

Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.